FILIPINO PATIENTS BILL OF RIGHTS 1.

The patient has the right to considerate and respectful care irrespective of socio-economic status. 2. The patient has the right to obtain from his physician complete current information concerning his diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in terms the patient can reasonably be expected to understand. When it is not medically advisable to give such information to the patient, the information should be made available to an appropriate person in his behalf. H has the right to know by name or in person, the medical team responsible in coordinating his care. 3. The patient has the right to receive from his physician information necessary to give informed consent prior to the start of any procedure and/or treatment. Except in emergencies, such information for informed consent should include but not necessarily limited to the specific procedure and or treatment, the medically significant risks involved, and the probable duration of incapacitation. When medically significant alternatives for care or treatment exist, or when the patient requests information concerning medical alternatives, the patient has the right to such information. The patient has also the right to know the name of the person responsible for the procedure and/or treatment. 4. The patient has the right to refuse treatment/life giving measures, to the extent permitted by law, and to be informed of the medical consequences of his action. 5. The patient has the right to every consideration of his privacy concerning his own medical care program. Case discussion, consultation, examination and treatment are confidential and should be conducted discreetly. Those not directly involved in his care must have the permission of the patient to be present. 6. The patient has the right to expect that all communications and records pertaining to his care should be treated as confidential. 7. The patient has the right that within its capacity, a hospital must make reasonable response to the request of patient for services. The hospital must provide evaluation, service and/or referral as indicated by the urgency of care. When medically permissible a patient may be transferred to another facility only after he has received complete information concerning the needs and alternatives to such transfer. The institution to which the patient is to be transferred must first have accepted the patient for transfer. 8. The patient has the right to obtain information as to any relationship of the hospital to other health care and educational institutions in so far as his care is concerned. The patient has the right to obtain as to the existence of any professional relationship among individuals, by name who are treating him. 9. The patient has the right to be advised if the hospital proposes to engage in or perform human experimentation affecting his care or treatment. The patient has the right to refuse or participate in such research project. 10. The patient has the right to expect reasonable continuity of care; he has the right to know in advance what appointment times the physicians are available and where. The patient has the right to expect that the hospital will provide a mechanism whereby he is informed by his physician or a delegate of the physician of the patients continuing health care requirements following discharge. 11. The patient has the right to examine and receive an explanation of his bill regardless of source of payment. 12. The patient has the right to know what hospital rules and regulation apply to his conduct as a patient.

Tungpalan, 1981